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Today's Technician: Automotive Brake Systems, Classroom Manual and Shop Manual, 8th Edition

Ken Pickerill, Michael Godson

  • Copyright 2025
  • {{checkPublicationMessage('Published', '2024-06-04T00:00:00+0000')}}
Starting At $74.95 See pricing and ISBN options
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Today's Technician: Automotive Brake Systems, Classroom Manual and Shop Manual 8th Edition by Ken Pickerill/Michael Godson
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Overview

Pickerill/Godson's TODAY'S TECHNICIAN: AUTOMOTIVE BRAKE SYSTEMS, CLASSROOM AND SHOP MANUAL, 8th Edition, equips readers to understand, diagnose and repair brake systems with confidence. With its two-volume approach, the text covers the theory and application of the total brake system, subsystem and components in the first volume, while the second explores symptoms, diagnostics and repairs. Known for its comprehensive coverage, accurate, up-to-date details and abundant illustrations, the text prepares students for success as an automotive technician or pursuit of ASE certification. Updated, extensive information on new and emerging technology and techniques, including hybrid vehicles, brake by wire and electric brakes, the 8th edition also aligns with the ASE Education Foundation 2022 accreditation model and includes customizable job sheets correlated to specific MLR, AST and MAST tasks.

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Meet the Authors

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Ken Pickerill

Ken Pickerill was a Certified Master Automotive Technician (with ASE Area L1 and X1) and an instructor at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Mr. Pickerill was a technician for 22 years before entering the training field, and he earned more than 40 years of technical and teaching experience over the span of his career. He received his master's degree in career and technical education from Indiana State University.

Michael Godson

Mike graduated from the Arizona Automotive Institute in Glendale, Arizona in 1977. He received a certificate in automatic transmission repair from Clark College in 1978 and completed an Associate of Applied Science in Automotive Technology in 1994. Mike worked as an automotive technician for various dealerships and independent service facilities from 1978 until accepting a faculty position in the Clark College Automotive Department. He has been teaching automotive technology full-time since 1995. In 2009, Mike was named Motor Age Training/ASE Master Automotive & L-1 Technician of the Year. He is also a certified Toyota Technician Education Network (T-TEN) instructor. In addition, Mike holds an ASE Master Automobile Technician certification, and ASE Advanced certifications in Engine Performance and Light Duty Hybrid/Electric Vehicles. Mike continues to work part-time in summer for a local independent vehicle repair facility.

What's New

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  • Content in both volumes has been updated to align with the ASE Education Foundation 2022 accreditation model and the 8th edition includes new job sheets related to specific MLR, AST and MAST tasks. Additionally, the text can serve as an up-to-date reference for today's technicians.
  • The text features expanded coverage of many new, emerging and evolving technologies important for today’s students and professionals to understand, including hybrid vehicles, brake by wire and electric brakes.
  • The author has revised or replaced most end-of-chapter questions and added rejoinders to the Instructor's Companion site, ensuring that these important features are accurate, up-to-date and effective for today’s learners. These end-of-chapter questions have been aligned to headings and objectives in the text to allow consistent mapping of learning assets for incorporation into Mindtap.
  • Wherever appropriate, illustrations and other visual elements have been added, updated or improved to better complement chapter content and help students master and apply what they learn.
  • Job sheet format and content has been updated to reflect current ASE Education Foundation standards. These sheets are easily modified for use with a variety of vehicles. Additionally, activities include instructor check and comment boxes for efficient assessment.

Features

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  • A unique two-volume format allows for comprehensive coverage with maximum instructional convenience, dividing content between a Classroom Manual to instill basic knowledge of how systems work, and a Shop Manual to help students hone their practical skills through hands-on application.
  • Detailed information on increasingly common technology such as ABS within a vehicle stability system prepares students for a seamless and successful transition from the classroom to the professional repair shop.
  • Full-color drawings, photos and schematics show modern brake technology and applications in accurate detail, bringing chapter material to life and making even complex concepts and procedures easier to understand and apply.
  • Step-by-step photo sequences in the Shop Manual illustrate important shop procedures in a clear, sequential and general way to help students master essential skills quickly and confidently.
  • Drawing on decades of experience as a professional technician, teacher and trainer, the author communicates using a clear, engaging writing style that makes the material accessible for readers of all backgrounds and learning styles.

Table of Contents

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CLASSROOM MANUAL.
1. Brake System Fundamentals.
2. Principles and Theories of Operation.
3. Related Systems: Tire, Wheels, Bearings, and Suspensions.
4. Master Cylinder and Brake Fluid.
5. Hydraulic Lines, Valves, and Switches.
6. Power Brake Systems.
7. Disc Brakes.
8. Drum Brakes.
9. Parking Brakes.
10. Electrical Braking Systems.
11. Advanced Braking Systems
SHOP MANUAL.
1. Brake Safety.
2. Brake Service Tools and Equipment.
3. Related System Service.
4. Master Cylinder and Brake Fluid Service.
5. Hydraulic Line, Valve, and Switch Service.
6. Power Brake Service.
7. Disc Brake Service.
8. Drum Brake Service.
9. Parking Brake Service.
10. Electrical Braking Systems Service.
11. Advanced Braking Systems Service.

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MindTap Options

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MindTap
Each MindTap product offers the full, mobile-ready textbook combined with superior and proven learning tools at one affordable price. Students who purchase digital access can add a print option at any time when a print option is available for their course.

This Cengage solution can be seamlessly integrated into most Learning Management Systems (Blackboard, Brightspace by D2L, Canvas, Moodle, and more) but does require a different ISBN for access codes. Please work with your Cengage Learning Consultant to ensure the proper course set up and ordering information. For additional information, please visit the LMS Integration site.

Standalone Digital Access — Ultimate Value

Recommended and most popular

  • ISBN-10: 0357766180
  • ISBN-13: 9780357766187
  • RETAIL $99.95

  • ISBN-10: 8214116767
  • ISBN-13: 9798214116761
  • RETAIL $99.95

  • ISBN-10: 8214123399
  • ISBN-13: 9798214123394
  • RETAIL $99.95

  • ISBN-10: 8214123380
  • ISBN-13: 9798214123387
  • RETAIL $99.95
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Textbook Only Options

Traditional eBook and Print Options

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  • ISBN-10: 0357766210
  • ISBN-13: 9780357766217
  • RETAIL $74.95

  • ISBN-10: 0357766113
  • ISBN-13: 9780357766118
  • RETAIL $170.95
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Supplements

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Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

FOR STUDENTS

MindTap for Pickerill/Godson's Today's Technician: Automotive Brake Systems, 4 terms Instant Access

ISBN: 9780357766187
Pickerill/Godson's TODAY'S TECHNICIAN: AUTOMOTIVE BRAKE SYSTEMS, CLASSROOM AND SHOP MANUAL, 8th Edition, is the digital learning solution that powers students from memorization to mastery. It gives you complete control of your course and provides engaging content to challenge every individual and build their confidence. Empower students to accelerate their progress, develop their interpersonal skills and work to seek their first career positions with MindTap. MindTap: Powered by You.

MindTap for Pickerill/Godson's Today's Technician: Automotive Brake Systems, 1 term Instant Access

ISBN: 9798214116761
Pickerill/Godson's TODAY'S TECHNICIAN: AUTOMOTIVE BRAKE SYSTEMS, CLASSROOM AND SHOP MANUAL, 8th Edition, is the digital learning solution that powers students from memorization to mastery. It gives you complete control of your course and provides engaging content to challenge every individual and build their confidence. Empower students to accelerate their progress, develop their interpersonal skills and work to seek their first career positions with MindTap. MindTap: Powered by You.

MindTap for Pickerill/Godson's Today's Technician: Automotive Brake Systems, 1 term Instant Access

ISBN: 9798214123394
Pickerill/Godson's TODAY'S TECHNICIAN: AUTOMOTIVE BRAKE SYSTEMS, CLASSROOM AND SHOP MANUAL, 8th Edition, is the digital learning solution that powers students from memorization to mastery. It gives you complete control of your course and provides engaging content to challenge every individual and build their confidence. Empower students to accelerate their progress, develop their interpersonal skills and work to seek their first career positions with MindTap. MindTap: Powered by You.

MindTap for Pickerill/Godson's Today's Technician: Automotive Brake Systems, 4 terms Instant Access

ISBN: 9798214123387
Pickerill/Godson's TODAY'S TECHNICIAN: AUTOMOTIVE BRAKE SYSTEMS, CLASSROOM AND SHOP MANUAL, 8th Edition, is the digital learning solution that powers students from memorization to mastery. It gives you complete control of your course and provides engaging content to challenge every individual and build their confidence. Empower students to accelerate their progress, develop their interpersonal skills and work to seek their first career positions with MindTap. MindTap: Powered by You.